The Arizona sentinel., 1887-01-29
JOS LUCK.
It Came to Him in the Shape of a Great
 Railroad Wash-Out.

RallrOau MaSn-Outs
 '.Did ye hear bout the cyclone? Scarcely shanty left standing down in Morville. People killed, an them who ain't killed fairly cleaned out. The wind s jus broke up every thing, an left them poor as Jobs turkey" The speaker was a long-haired, cadaverous looking individual, who spit tobacco juice about freely as he delivered him. self of the foregoing statement. A mot ley group had gathered around the huge stove, for although raw wind was blowing outside, the store door was left hospitably open to entice GUS toners.
 'Yes, hard lines" replied the court eous proprietor; 'and the cyclone came within five miles of us, twill be our turn next. Contributions will be taken in all the churches tomorrow for the sufferers.
 "Wall, people ought to perfect their selves," continued the first speaker. ''Now I've dug big hole in the groun', sort of a vault like, ye know, an I tell my folks if worst comes to the worst, we can jus pile in there."
 ''So you have prepared city of refuge; good idea," was the reply; ''yet we may escape, although this part of the South seems to be the section just now chosen for such operations. "
 Better all go home an dig holes in the groun', ," was the countryman's ad- vice as he stalked out of the store.
 Among the interested listeners was Jo, a little colored boy. He had battled with storms, and knew by actual ex- perience that high wind was not a force to be despised. ''Let the siklone come," he chuckled, "rs prepared. Faint ebery un dat owns gran un- dergroun' state. Take mighty high wind to upset my pallis. l can lay dere as snug as a top, with never fear dat my roof will sail off ober my head. LOT! but don't the wind blow. l b'lieve a siklone's comin' sure nuff!'
 The wind continued to blow, gaining in force as the day waned. and by night the rain fell in torrents. The streets were nearly deserted, with here and there a traveller who struggled wearily against the storm. Notwithstanding Jos high opinion of the good points of his establishment, hungry and cold he still wandered restlessly about, loath to take possession of his snug quarters.
 'It's bad luck I've had today" he said; ''yes, confounded bad luck! I thought for sure Jim would pay me dat nickel, he's DO trifin' chap. An MT. Curtis, pears like he thinks Is rich, reckon he knows live in pallis'' and Jo laughed bitterly. "No mat ter" he continued more cheerfully, "'tain't the first time I've turned in supperless." And so, footsore, and with a very faint feeling in the region of the stomach, the fOrlorn little figure trudged bravely on in the darkness to- ward his cave-like berth on the side of hill not far from the railroad. Here Jo had taken possession of small natural cavern. and set up housekeeping. His household goods consisted of few pieces of broken crockery, and frag- ment of a quilt. Mighty good of Dinah to give me this 'ere," !" soliloquized Jo, as he wrapped the old quilt closely about him; ''reckOn I'll pay her call in the mornin', bite of her cold vittles would go right good. Iwonder if it's warm up dere where mother went! No night, no hunger, no cold, shouldn't min trying it my own sell" But poor Jos troubles were soon forgotten in dreamless sleep.
 He awoke toward morning in speech less terror. It seemed as if the earth underneath him was shaken, there was a sound as if heavy body had fallen, then all was silence. ''Was it the siklone?" he thought. Gradually he gathered courage and his scattered wits. I'll go out and 'vestigate," he said, although shaking with fear.
 'Jerushyr' he cried. The frequent and violent rains had taken effect. Looking down toward the railroad track, he saw, in the dim light, that portion of the embankment underneath it had given away. "Jerushy!" he re- peated, "a wash out, an it's mos time for the early train" As he slept in his clothes, he could dispense with the little ceremony of dressing, and with no thought of the pelting storm, he rushed breathless and headlong to the station. The official there could scarce ly credit Jos words, but was forced to believe the evidences of his own senses, and the train was signaled and stopped ere it reached the fatal break. The washout created profound sensation in the little town, and the narrow es- cape of the train was a nine days wonder.
 When Monday morning came, the ,,ou.1 nm, bat. of 1Oaforc xrar.a nrafharad